Lawrence Oliver Obituary

Lawrence Russel Oliver passed away the morning of May 6, 2023 at home surrounded by his wife and children after a year of health challenges and a brief time under hospice care. He was a devoted husband, loving father, beloved grandfather and talented artist committed to his church, community and country. He will be deeply missed. This is the obituary Larry wrote for himself:Lawrence was born in Paonia, Colorado July 16, 1935 (you do the math) to Edwin M. Oliver Sr. and Margaret Henkle Oliver. He was named after his two grandfathers: Clinton Lawrence Oliver and Horace Russell Henkle. Lawrence lived 16 years in Paonia; 2 years in Longmont, CO; 1 year in Baldwin, KS, at Baker University; 1 year training at various camps courtesy of the US Army, followed by 2 years at a radio station in Helemano, HI; 4 years attending University of Colorado in Boulder; 1-1/2 years with the Bureau of Reclamation in Utah and Colorado; 17 years in Longmont, CO helping run The Home Lumber Company; and the rest of his life being a wood sculptor in southwest Missouri, moving from Mansfield to Springfield in 2006. In 1959 Larry married Virginia Raye Hickman in Longmont, CO. Five children came to this union. Larry loved working with wood and now his work is scattered in a dozen countries and a thousand cities. Larry was an active member of the United Methodist Church and the Lions Club for sixty years; most recently with Asbury United Methodist Church and Springfield Host Lions Club. Larry volunteered with the Boy Scouts and with P. E. T. of Southwest Missouri (Mobility Worldwide MO-Columbia Carts) building personal energy transportation vehicles for individuals with mobility disabilities. Over his lifetime he donated gallons of blood to the Red Cross. He was also a senior scholar at the Limbaugh Institute of Advanced Conservative Studies. Larry is preceded in death by his parents; his son Lee Russel; his sister Margie Hartway; and his brother, Ed Oliver, Jr. Larry is survived by his wife Ginny; four children: Raylynn Oliver (David Robinson), Wayne Oliver (Amy Jo), Susan Oliver Cox, and Rick Oliver (Anne); 11 grandchildren: Justin (Cristina) and John Robinson, Wyatt and Mason Oliver, Ezra Spike Cox (Ashley), Lauren Cox Peterson (Craig), Elizabeth Cox Gaines (Kevin) and Cameron Cox, Makenzie, Emma and Will Oliver; and 9 great-grandchildren: Maddox and Brock Cox, Eliana, Cael and Virginia Peterson, Joshua and Raynebo Smith, Mattisen and Haylee Gaines; his sisters-in-law Patsy Oliver in New Albany, IN and Doree Hickman of Boulder, CO and his brother-in-law Jim Hartway of Littleton, CO. Funeral services will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church Saturday, May 13, 10am with a visitation at 9:30am. Donations in Larry's memory can be made to Mobility Worldwide MO-Columbia Carts or the Lions Club International Foundation.